Control means for valves

ABSTRACT

955,288. Valves. A. W. WOOD. Sept. 7, 1962 [Sept. 7, 1961; June 13, 1962; June 15, 1962; July 19, 1962], Nos. 32184/61, 22682/62, 23144/62 and 27822/62. Heading F2V. [Also in Divisions F4 and G3] A safety control means comprises a valve 8, fluid pressure means 9, 10 controlling the valve, an enclosed space 11, 12 surrounding a conduit 6 to be protected and connected to the fluid pressure means, and means 19 for establishing in the enclosed space a pressure different from that in the ambient atmosphere and in the conduit 6 to open the valve, the arrangement being such that on removal of the pressure differential the valve is automatically closed. In the preferred embodiment, the valve 8 consists of a rubber diaphragm normally held off the top of a pipe 5 by reduced pressure in a cylinder 9 and which is connected by the space 11, 12 and a chamber 15 to a suction bulb 19. When the chamber 15 is tilted to a predetermined angle a member 17 either topples off the chamber or falls about a hinge to allow air to enter an inlet 16 and the valve 8 to close. The member 17 may also be caused to uncover the inlet 16 by engagement of a pin 26 with a float arm 23 if liquid rises to an excessive level in a chamber 13 containing a second float-operated valve 21 controlling the outlet of the conduit 6. The latter and an outer conduit forming the space 12 may be of polyethylene or polypropylene to allow an oil burning appliance of the radiant or convector type on which the chamber 13 is mounted to be moved about. Closure of valve 8 also occurs if either conduit is fractured or the float arm 23 is operated manually by a lever 29. The valve 8 may be loaded by a spring or be replaced by a needle valve connected by a linkage to a barometric capsule.

65 A. w. WOOD 3,202,199

CONTROL MEANS FOR VALVES Filed Sept. 5, 1962 mcuuM PUMP ATTORNEYS United States Patent CGNTROL MEANS FQR VALVES Anthony White Wood, Henley-on-Thaines, England, assignor to Karma (New Malden) Limited Filed Sept. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 221,610 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Sept. 7, 1961, 32,184/61 3 Claims. ((11. 158-421) The present invention relates to control means for the supply of a fluid along a pipe and has as an object to provide means whereby in the event of damage to the pipe the supply of the fluid is automatically and instantaneously cut off.

According to the present invention safety control means for a valve from which a liquid gas or vapour is led into a conduit comprises a valve member, fluid pressure means for controlling the valve, means for connecting an enclosed space surrounding that part of the conduit to be protected to the fluid pressure means for controlling the valve, and means for establishing in the enclosed space a pressure different from that in the atmosphere or in the conduit feeding the liquid gas or vapour, said pressure being adapted to operate the fluid pressure means for controlling the valve so as to open the valve, the arrangement being such that on removal of the pressure differential the valve is automatically closed to cut the supply of liquid gas or vapour.

The invention has particular application as a safety factor when supplying fuel, such as fuel oil, from a reservoir to an oil burning stove either of the wick or drip feed type. In this case and in other cases where the enclosed space surrounding the fuel pipe extends to the stove or other appliance using the liquid gas or vapour there may also be provided on the appliance means whereby on the appliance being displaced by tilting or overturning the pressure differential in the enclosed space is automatically eliminated and so the valve is shut. There may also be associated with such an arrangement or independently of such an arrangement and with an oil burning appliance a float chamber for limiting the supply of oil and this float chamber may incorporate means whereby in the event of the float chamber flooding through the float sticking or for any other reason the differential pressure is eliminated and the supply valve automatically closed.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing which shows partly in section control means in accordance with the present invention suitable for use with a portable oil burning stove of the convector or radiant type.

The fuel oil for burning is stored in bulk in a tank 1. From the base of the reservoir 1 there is an outlet 2 provided with a manually operated on-ofl" valve 3. The outlet 2 leads to a chamber 4 into which the fuel from the tank 1 is fed by gravity or pump means. This chamber contains an outlet pipe 5 for the fuel which comprises a short upstand extending into the chamber 4 and projecting therefrom a short distance to facilitate attachment of the main supply tube 6. The outlet pipe 5 extends upwardly into the chamber 4 to provide an outlet opening 7 for the fuel which is normally closed by a diaphragm 8 of rubber or other resilient material. The diaphragm 3 extends across the mouth of a cylindrical chamber 9 from which there leads a sealed pipe 10. This sealed pipe 10 connects with a short downwardly extending pipe 11 sealed to the base of the chamber 4 and surrounding that part of the outlet 5 which projects from the chamber.

Secured to the downward pipe 11 is a flexible tube 12 which surrounds and encloses the fuel tube 6. Both tubes may conveniently be flexible so as to permit the stove or other appliance which it feeds to be moved about. Thus for example where fuel oil is employed as the fuel both pipes may be formed of polyethylene or polypropylene or other material resistant to the liquid being conveyed and having the desired amount of durability.

The other end of the two tubes connect to a float chamber 13, the fuel tube 6 leading into the float chamber itself and the surrounding tube 12 being sealed to the outside of the float chamber but having a lead-off pipe 14 for the purpose hereinafter described. For the convenience of connection the flexible tubes 6 and 12 may make a force fit with rigid pipes fixedly extending from the float chamber.

The lead off pipe 14 connecting with the enclosed space between the tubes 6 and 12 leads into a small chamber 15 mounted on the top of the float chamber 13 and sealed from it. In the upper wall of the chamber 15 there is an air inlet hole 16 which is normally closed by a member 17 which may take any convenient shape provided that it is so dimensioned that upon the float chamber being tilted to a predetermined angle the member 17 either topples off or falls about a hinge so as to expose the air inlet 16 and open the chamber 15 and hence the enclosed space between the tubes 6 and 12 to the outer atmosphere. Also connected to the chamber 15 is a tube 18 which is connected to a suction bulb 19 or other means for producing within the space between the diaphragm 8 at one end and the chamber 15 at the other a reduced pressure.

The float chamber 13 carries two floats. One float which is shown diagrammatically at 20 operates a valve 21 which closes the inlet from the pipe 6 into the float chamber when fuel in the float chamber reaches the desired level. The other float 22 is connected to a lever 23 which is pivoted at 24 so that the lever 23 rises and falls with the level of the fuel. Projecting through an aperture 25 in the float chamber is a pin 26 which bears upon a pad 27 mounted on the lever arm 23. The length of the pin is such that if for any reason the valve 21 does not properly close when the fuel in the float chamber reaches the desired level the pin is carried upwardly by the lever arm 23 because of the rise in level of the float 22 until it strikes the member 17 and lifts it to let air through the aperture 16 into the chamber 15.

Pipe 28 leads from the float chamber to the oil stove or other appliance, the level of the fuel in the float chamber being adjusted so that the level of the fuel in the stove or other appliance is at the required level. The float chamber is of course rigidly mounted. upon the appliance.

There may also be provided a manually operated lever 29 which projects through a slot in the float chamber, the slot of course being above the required level of the fuel in the float chamber, and is operatively connected to the lever 23 so that if for any reason it is desired to cut the supply of fuel to the float chamber the lever 29 can be depressed so raising the lever 23 to operate the pin 26.

In operation and when it is desired to operate the appliance the on-off manually operated valve is pushed to the on position so as to allow fuel to enter the chamber 4. The bulb or other device 19 is operated so as partially to evacuate the space in the chamber 15, the pipe 14, the space between the tubes 6 and 12, the pipe 10, and the area above the diaphragm 8 to produce therein a reduced pressure. This causes the diaphragm 8 to be held off the top of the pipe 5 so permitting fuel to enter into the inlet 7 to flow down the pipe 6 into the float chamber 13 until the liquid in the float chamber rises to the predetermined level and so operates the valve 21 to stop the flow into the float chamber in the normal manner of a float chamber control. The fuel flows out through pipe 28 and establishes the required level in the appliance. During normal working of the appliance the diaphragm 5 remains held off the pipe 5 and the float chamber works in the normal way. The float 22 attached to lever arm 23 also rises with the fuel in the float chamber but whilst the valve 21 is operating normally it does not rise high enough to operate the pin 26.

Should the tubes 6 and 12 or either of them become detached or fractured then the partial vacuum occurring in the space between the tubes disappears and the diaphragm 8 is permitted to drop onto the pipe and so automatically cuts oif the supply of fuel at this point. If necessary the diaphragm 8 can be loaded by spring or otherwise so as to urge it against the pipe 5 when the partial vacuum in the chamber 9 is not present to hold it open.

Should the tubing and various pipes remain intact but the appliance itself becomes dangerously tilted or turned over completely the member 17 becomes dislodged thereby permitting air to enter in through the aperture 16 to eliminate the partial vacuum and once again the diaphragm 8 drops to close the outlet 7. Again if for any reason the valve 21 fails properly to close, on the fuel in the float chamber reaching the predetermined level or for any other reason should the fuel level reach a level beyond its normal one the float 22 lifts the arm 23 to operate the pin 26 against the member 17 and air enters through the aperture 16 to cause the partial vacuum to be eliminated and the diaphragm 8 allowed to close the inlet '7.

It will be realised that the arrangement shown in the drawings is only one arrangement falling within the invention and modifications can be made without departing from the invention. Thus where for example fuel is supplied under pump pressure to the chamber 4 and the valve has to resist considerable pressure the construction of the valve may be of a more complicated nature and may be in the form of a needle or taper valve operated through linkages by a barometric capsule which would replace the chamber 9, the operation of the device 19 then serving partially to evacuate the capsule to operate the valve.

It will of course be realised that the invention can be operated by introducing into the space between the tubes a pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure and/or in excess of the pressure of the medium being conveyed in the tube 6, fracturing of the tubes or exposure of the onclosed space to the atmosphere serving to release the pressure permitting the supply valve to close,

If desired one enclosing tube or other enclosing space may accommodate a plurality of tubes carrying the medium to be conveyed. For example where it is desired to safeguard against the fracturing of pipes, for example in harbours where oil is being unladen, all the pipes leading from the quay tothe storage tanks over the area in which they run together may be enclosed in one sealed envelope, the vacuum or excess pressure maintained in the envelope serving to operate a valve which on the vacuum or excess pressure being eliminated would close automatically to stop the flow of oil. The valve would also close should one or more of the pipes accidentally become fractured within the envelope, the envelope itself remaining intact.

The invention is applicable to the conveyance of any fluid along tubes or pipes and may be used, for example, in the conveyance of water or oil over long distances and where the risk of damage to the pipes is present. However the invention has particular application to use in houses or other buildings where it is desired to connect an oil stove or lamp to bulk supply through a flexible tube, the bulk supply being at a distance from the stove or lamp.

What I claim is:

1. A safety control means for a valve from which a liquid gas or vapour is led into a conduit comprising a valve member, fluid pressure means for controlling the valve, means for operatively connecting an enclosed space surrounding that part of the conduit to be protected to the fluid pressure means for controlling the valve, means for establishing in the enclosed space a pressure different from that in the ambient atmosphere or in the conduit feeding the liquid gas or vapour, said pressure difference being adapted to operate the fluid pressure means for controlling the valve so as to open the valve, the arrangement being such that on removal of the pressure differential the valve is automatically closed to cut off the supply of liquid gas or vapour to the conduit, in which the conduit leads into a float chamber for establishing and maintaining a predetermined level of liquid therein, and in which means are provided for connecting the enclosed space with the ambient atmosphere in the event of the level in the float chamber exceeding the predetermined level.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said means comprises a chamber positioned adjacent the float chamber and connected to the enclosed space and provided with a valve connecting with the ambient atmosphere, means connecting the valve with a float in the float chamber so that upon the float reaching a level above the predetermined level for normal working the valve is opened to connect the enclosed space with the ambient atmosphere.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said charn ber is provided with a valve which is normally closed but which opens upon the float chamber being displaced angularly a predetermined amount from its normal position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,271,642 7/18 Wiegand 137-ss 1,391,956 9/21 Holland 15s 3s 1,737,161 11/29 rn 13768 2,163,988 6/39 Stacey 137 3s 2,216,854 10/40 Sanford 137-38 2,309,591 1/43 Norton 137-39x 2,413,087 12/46 Urbany 15842.1X 2,923,288 2/60 Burtt.

2,995,201 8/61 Stafford etal. 15s 132x 3,070,109 12/62 Crandall 137--68 FOREIGN PATENTS 554,477 3/ 23 France.

FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Primary Examiner.

FREDERICK KETTERER, JAMES W. WESTHAVER,

Examiners. 

1. A SAFETY CONTROL MEANS FOR A VALVE FROM WHICH A LIQUID GAS OR VAPOUR IS LED INTO A CONDUIT COMPRISING A VALVE MEMBER, FLUID PRESSURE MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE VALVE, MEANS FOR OPERATIVELY CONNECTING AN ENCLOSED SPACER SURROUNDING THAT PART OF THE CONDUIT TO BE PROTECTED TO THE FLUID PRESSURE MEANS FOR CONTROLING THE VALVE, MEANS FOR ESTABLISHING IN THE ENCLOSED SPACE A PRESSURE DIFFERENT FROM THAT IN THE AMBIENT ATMOSPHERE OR IN THE CONDUIT FEEDING THE LIQUID GAS OR VAPOUR, SAID PRESSURE DIFFERENT BEING ADAPTED TO OPERATE THE FLUID PRESSURE MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE VALVE SO AS TO OPEN THE VALVE, THE ARRANGEMENT BEING SUCH THAT ON REMOVAL OF THE PRESSURE DIFFERENTTIAL THE VALVE IS AUTOMATICALLY CLOSED TO CUT OFF THE SUPPLY OF LIQUID GAS OR VAPOUR TO THE CONDUIT, IN WHICH THE CONDUIT LEADS INTO A FLOAT CHAMBER FOR ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING A PREDETERMINED LEVEL OF LIQUID THEREIN, AND IN WHICH MEANS ARE PROVIDED FOR CONNECTING THE ENCLOSED SPACE WITH THE AMBIENT ATMOSPHERE IN THE EVENT OF THE LEVEL IN THE FLOAT CHAMBER EXCEEDING THE PREDETERMINED LEVEL. 